Julien was awarded the Royal Academy of Arts Charles Wollaston Award for Western Union: Small Boats as part of the Summer Exhibition 2017. In 2017, he was appointed CBE for services to the Arts in the Queen's Birthday Honours List.

About the Royal Academy of Arts

The Royal Academy of Arts was founded by King George III in 1768. It has a unique position in being an independent, privately funded institution led by eminent artists and architects whose purpose is to be a clear, strong voice for art and artists. Its public programme promotes the creation, enjoyment and appreciation of the visual arts through exhibitions, education and debate.

The Royal Academy of Arts is governed by 80 Royal Academicians who are all practising artists or architects. On reaching the age of 75 they become Senior Academicians thus initiating vacnacies for new Members. Elections are held at regular meetings of the General Assembly, when new Members are voted in by existing RAs. In recent years, the Royal Academy has elected a record-number of Members creating a new generation of Royal Academicians, including Thomas Heatherwick, Chantal Joffe, Paula Rego, Conrad Shawcross, Yinka Shonibare, Bob and Roberta Smith, Wolfgang Tillmans and now in 2018, Isaac Julien.